Rocket trails are seen amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks in the sky above the Israeli center coastal city of Netanya, on March 15, 2026. (AFP Photo)
March 22, 2026 12:11 AM GMT+03:00
At least six people were killed and more than 100 others injured after an Iranian ballistic missile struck the southern Israeli city of Arad late on Saturday, in what appears to be a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv.
The strike caused extensive destruction across the city, according to Turkish and Israeli media reports. Medical teams were dispatched to the scene of the reported impacts, with Israeli media confirming a mass casualty response in the area.
It remained unclear in the immediate aftermath whether the casualties resulted from direct missile impacts, submunitions from a cluster bomb warhead, or falling fragments following attempted interceptions, the Times of Israel reported.
Initial reports placed the injury toll at around 30, though that figure quickly rose past 100 as emergency responders gained access to affected areas. The rapid escalation in casualty numbers suggested the full extent of the damage was still being assessed late into the night.
The attack was described by Iranian sources as a retaliatory strike, though detailed information about Tehran’s stated justification was not immediately available from the sources reviewed.
March 22, 2026 12:29 AM GMT+03:00